How Cox Plate winner Damian Lane forged his successful Japanese connection

A stint in Japan changed the course of Damian Lane’s career, which led to Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate on Japanese horses. Here is how it happened.

Cox Plate-winning jockey Damian Lane would be a success anywhere there is a horse to be ridden in a race.

Such is the skill set, workrate and dedication of the Melbourne-based Western Australian.

But a timely trip to Japan in 2019, motivated by curiosity to explore a new racing jurisdiction, altered the course of Lane’s career.

A license to ride in Japan, during the winter off-season in Melbourne, and immediate success led to Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate glory.

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“I wanted to learn more, see another different racing jurisdiction and hoped to ride some of their good horses,” Lane said ahead of Saturday’s Cox Plate bid on Japanese star Prognosis.

“They’re obviously very strong horses globally and I wanted to see if I could get involved.”

Get involved, he did.

Future Caulfield Cup winner Mer De Glace was one of Lane’s first rides in Japan.

A wildly successful international foray for then 25-year-old finished with a victory in the Cox Plate qualifier Group 1 Takarazuka Kinen on Lys Gracieux.

The star mare took full advantage of the golden ticket with a dominant win at The Valley.

“It was incredible, I rode Mer De Glace first weekend I was there and then I picked up Lys Gracieux at the end of my stint there, that was a pretty fortunate trip, right place, right time,” Lane said.

Two Melbourne spring carnival majors in as many Saturdays for Japanese trainers and owners stamped Lane’s racing resume, which already included a Golden Slipper at the time, and passport.

Damian Lane riding Cox Plate favourite Prognosis in a track gallop at The Valley last week. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

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“You got to meet certain riding requirements to get a short-term license there and getting with the right trainer is a big must as well,” Lane said.

“I reached out to Craig Williams initially, who put me on to my current manager in Japan, Adam Harrigan, and he teed up for me work with Noriyuki Hori, that was the best head start I could’ve got.”

Lane has forged the Japanese connection the past five years with 20 stakes winners in the country including five Group 1s.

He has also ridden and won feature races abroad on Japanese horses in Saudi Arabia, Dubai and Hong Kong.

The success and “semi-celebrity status” of jockeys in the passionate racing jurisdiction, made Lane a household racing name in Japan.

“The fans love their racing, they love their horses, they’re very much the stars of the show, they’re very passionate,” Lane said.

“Sometimes fans will come to train stations or airports when they know you’re travelling between tracks (asking for) autographs and pictures, they’ll take their chance on who they might see.

“They know the jockeys have got to travel to race meetings and go by train or plane, so they just hope to see who they might be after.”

Damian Lane pumps his fist after winning the Cox Plate aboard Lys Gracieux in 2019. Picture: Getty Images

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WA expat Harrigan has spent 15 years in Japan as agent and interpreter for international jockeys, including Joao Moreira.

“All jockeys in Japan are semi-celebrity status, it’s a little bit of a different model, atmosphere than Australia and other places around the world,” Harrigan said.

“He’s (Lane) very well-respected by owners and trainers over there, the fans also love seeing him ride and visit Japan as well, overall, he’s popular when he’s over there.

“We were lucky enough to hit the ground running, he had very good support from owners and trainers, got a few early wins on the board and established his credentials.”

Lane’s past successes for Japanese breeding giant Shadai Farm and trainer Mitsumasa Nakauchida led to the Prognosis association.

Lane also helped connections with advice before the commitment to travel to Melbourne for the Cox Plate.

Damian Lane winning the Caulfield Cup on Mer De Glace, one of the first horses he rode in Japan. Picture: Getty Images

“It would be a great reward for effort, a big thrill, the Cox Plate is our best race so I’d love to win another one,” Lane said.

Prognosis completed an ominous track gallop at The Valley last week.

The three-time Group 2 winner, placed three times in elite company behind reigning Cox Plate winner Romantic Warrior (twice) and Japanese “freak” Equinox, who retired last year as the world’s best racehorse.

“Prognosis is more than capable of winning a Group 1, just been unfortunate he hasn’t cracked it yet,” Lane said.

“There’s been some real stars in the Japanese weight-for-age ranks the past couple of years, Equinox, Liberty Island, these sort of horses are absolute freaks.

“He’s probably been stiff, in this era, he hasn’t won his Group 1 yet, he will soon enough.”

Originally published as How Cox Plate winner Damian Lane forged his successful Japanese connection